Get Ready for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten Park

Get Ready for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten Park View Elementary 2017 -2018

TK or K? • Transitional Kindergarten – For children with birthdates between September 2, 2012 and December 2, 2012 • Kindergarten – For children with birthdates before September 2, 2012

Meet the TK/Kindergarten Teachers Mrs. Carroll Mrs. Willey Ms. Knight Mrs. Hewitt Mrs. Walker

Class Times (Monday through Thursday) • AM Kinder 7: 40 am – 11: 04 am • PM Kinder 10: 31 – 1: 55 pm • ALL Kinder Students – Fridays and other Minimum days 7: 40 – 12: 04 pm.

Bell to Bell Instruction • Please be on time dropping off and picking up your child. It is very unsettling for children to arrive late or be picked up late. • Please arrive no sooner than 10 minutes prior to class time unless you are able to wait with your child.

Being emotionally ready to start Kindergarten • If your child has difficulty leaving you at the beginning of each day, please be prepared to make a plan for helping your child with this transition. • Teachers will not be able to peel/take your child from you or vice-versa. ☺ • Remember, your child’s teacher will be in charge of 28 other children. Your child will need to enter and stay in the classroom with minimal support from school staff. • If this is a concern for your family, please speak with the teacher as soon as possible.

Kindergarten is not optional! • Once enrolled, your child is required to be in school everyday unless he/she is too ill to attend. • Please call the office/send a note when your child returns after an absence. • Please schedule appointments around class time or on Friday afternoons. • If you need to pick up your child early, you must go to the office and sign them out.

Health Concerns • If your child has food allergies, you and your pediatrician will be required to complete a special form that our school must keep on file. Health forms are available in the office. • Please also inform the office and your child’s teacher of any other special health needs. • Children may not bring prescribed or over-the -counter medication to school. If your child needs medication for any reason, please talk with the teacher or office.

Clothes • Clothing needs to be appropriate for active play. • Remember: paint and markers are not clothes friendly. • Shoes need to be comfortable and cover the entire foot. (No sandals) • All outerwear needs to be labeled with your child’s name. • Children spend a lot of time sitting on the carpet. If possible, shorts should be worn under dresses and skirts.

ID Badges & Lanyards • All students will be issued a student ID badge and lanyard to be worn daily for the first week of school. • The ID badge helps Park View staff to make sure your child is safe and in the correct location on campus.

Backpacks • A regular-sized backpack is all your child needs. • Please no backpacks with wheels and pull out handles. • Please make sure that your child’s name is written on or in his/her backpack.

Toys • No toys are allowed at school, unless your child brings a note home letting you know that he/she is the Star of the Week. • Toys brought to school will be taken away and returned only to you, the parent.

Field Trips • We may have the opportunity to participate in a field trip this year. • Only complete, signed permission slips will be accepted. • We would appreciate parent chaperones to help us look after small groups of children; however, you MUST be Volunteer Trained to go with us on a field trip. • Sign up quickly when we request volunteers for field trips…space is usually very limited. Sorry, siblings cannot attend field trips.

Breakfast • Please send your child with a full tummy. • For AM students, breakfast is served from 6: 50 to 7: 20 am every morning. Cost is $1. 25 (Reduced price is. 25) • Proctors, not teachers, will be supervising students in the cafeteria. • PM students will need to eat a snack or a late breakfast before arriving at school.

Lunch • Your child will have approx. 30 minutes for lunch & recess on Fridays and other minimum days • Monday thru Thursday students will NOT be eating lunch at school. • Students will eat first, then play. • Kinder students have the option of bringing a healthy “cold” lunch from home or buying “hot” lunch at school. • Lunch costs $2. 00 (reduced price is 40 cents) • Applications for free or reduced prices for lunch (& breakfast) are available online. https: //mealapps. vesd. net • Please complete this application today. The Park View computer lab will be open after orientation.

Lunch • If you are sending your child with “cold lunch” on Friday, please send it in containers that they can open and close themselves. • Please put your child’s name and room # on all non-disposable items. • Please: NO soda, candy, knives or glass. • On Friday mornings, your child will need to place their lunch in the lunch bucket in their classroom. • Please do not send any individual snacks.

Report Cards and Conferences • Report cards will be given at the end of each trimester (November, March & June). • October and March Parent-Teacher Conferences are times to discuss where your child is in relation to the expectations set by the Victor Elementary School District and the State of California.

Disaster Preparedness • Please make sure correct, current information is on the emergency card. • Make changes in the office as soon as possible. We MUST always be able to contact you.

Homework • Weekly reading logs will be sent home on Thursday. • Reading logs are due the following Thursday. • Please read to your child each night and complete the reading log. • Please also read the bottom portion of each homework sheet. It contains important upcoming dates and events.

Birthdays • Birthdays are very exciting for Kindergarten students; however, specific procedures need to be in place to ensure the safety of all students. • Due to health concerns and state laws, we are implementing a no food policy in Kindergarten. Please DO NOT send any food items to school to celebrate your child’s birthday.

Birthdays • Instead, we suggest treats such as pencils, erasers, stickers, bubbles, small party favor items, etc. • You may also send in a wrapped book for your child to open. We will read it in class and add it to our classroom library with your child’s name on the dedication page. • In addition, please do not send birthday invitations for your child to pass out unless all children in the class are to be invited. Young children do not fully understand parents’ budget or space limitations.

Volunteers • All volunteers MUST be volunteer trained or retrained each school year. Check the calendar and please do not wait until the last minute to complete the training. Most volunteer training is in the fall. • If you cannot help in the classroom, please let us know if you are able to take home projects or chaperone for other school related activities.

Safe and Secure Campus Per Board Policy (AR 1250) All visitors must report to the office before entering school grounds. The safety of your child is priority #1 at Park View, and we thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please refer to our Parent Code of Conduct Handbook for more information on our policies. Starting Monday, August 28, 2017 for Kindergarten • 7: 30 -7: 35 - Warning bell rings, all students report to class – Kindergarten students may enter through the front gate (Gate #1) by the office • 7: 40 - Instruction begins; late students must check in through the office • 10: 20 -10: 25 – All PM students arrive at gate near flag pole (Gate 4) • 10: 31 – (Gate 4 will be locked promptly at 10: 31. ) Instruction begins; late students must check in through the office.

Bus Riders • Kindergarten students will be able to ride the bus to/from school starting Monday, August 21, 2017 (Only if your bus application is completed and approved by VESD transportation. ) • Bus applications MUST be completed TODAY! Please complete the form and take it to the office.

Bus Routes - * Transportation may change these routes after the school year has started. • Route 18 - Amargosa Rd @ Anacapa Rd – Wrangler Ln @ Mirage Rd – Princeton Dr @ Arvila Dr – Dos Palmas Rd @ Adele St • Route 19 – Canyon Rim Rd @ King Canyon Rd –Canyon Rim Rd @Santa Fe Trail

Bus Routes • Route 22 – – – – Jade Rd @ Northstar Ave @ Shooting Star Dr Northstar Ave @ Pacoima Rd Northstar Ave @ Del Amo Way (S) Del Amo Way @ Northstar Ave (E) Alta Mesa Way @ Ponderosa Ranch Rd Lampost Rd @ Ponderosa Ranch Rd

Bus Riders • Bus riders MUST ride the bus home each day unless a note/phone call is sent to the teacher/office. (We cannot take the word of your child or a sibling. ) • Please call no later than one hour before dismissal in order for the office to notify the teacher of any changes. • Parents MUST be at the bus stop to pick up their child or the bus driver will have the student remain on the bus & return the student to school.

AM Kinder Arrival • AM Kinder students will enter through the gate next to the office (Gate 1). Mrs. Carroll’s & Mrs. Walker’s students will line up next to their classroom door. Mrs. Willey’s students will sit at the blue tables. • Starting Monday, August 28, parents will need to say goodbye to their children at the gate. Only Park View students will be allowed to enter campus, per Park View’s Safe and Secure Campus Policy.

UPDATE: AM Kinder Arrival • If you are driving a car to drop off an AM Kindergarten student, please use the open gate in the circle drive by the flag pole. • Please DO NOT stop your car in front of the office to drop off students. • If you are walking to drop off an AM Kindergarten student, please use Gate 1 near the blue tables.

AM Kinder Dismissal – Monday Thru Thursday • AM Kinder students will be dismissed from the kindergarten playground area (Gate 2). • Parents may line up along the playground fence next to the gate, ONLY to pick up their child. • For student safety, please stay in line. Students will not be allowed to exit the gate without being dismissed by a teacher. Please do not call your child out, they have been told to wait for the teacher to call them. • Please use the Kindergarten Pick Up Card with your child’s first, last and teacher’s name. Please have your card each day, as this will speed up the dismissal process.

Map of Park View e at G s e at 1& 2 G 4

PM Kinder Arrival • PM Kinder students will meet their teachers at the gate near the flagpole (Gate 4). Students enter through the gate next to the flag pole. • Teachers will walk their students to their classrooms at 10: 31. • Starting Monday, August 28, parents will need to say goodbye to their children at the gate. Only Park View students will be allowed to enter campus, per Park View’s Safe and Secure Campus Policy.

PM Kinder Dismissal – Thru Thursday Monday • If walking, parents may line up outside Gate 4 to pick up their child. • If driving, please stay in the car and join the end of the car line in the circle drive. • For student safety, please stay in line and do not double park. • Teachers on duty at the gate will let us know that a parent is waiting in line for a Kinder student. That student will be walked to the gate or his/her car. » Please use the Kindergarten Pick Up Card with your child’s first, last and teacher’s name. Please have your card each day, as this will speed up the dismissal process.

Map of Park View e at G s e at 1& 2 G 4

AM/PM Friday Dismissal • Parents may line up at Gate 4 to pick up their child. • If driving, please stay in the car and join the end of the car line in the circle drive. • For student safety, please stay in line. • Teachers on duty at the gate will let us know that a parent is waiting in line for a Kinder student. That student will be walked to the gate or his/her car. • Please use the Kindergarten Pick Up Card with your child’s first, last and teacher’s name. Please have your card each day, as this will speed up the dismissal process.

AM/PM Friday Dismissal Continued • You may be asked to show photo ID. • All bus riders will be walked to the busses by a teacher. (Older siblings of PM bus riders should go directly to their busses, not come to PM Kindergarten to pick up the younger child. ) • All remaining students will be dismissed from the K-1 classroom (PM). All students will be under the supervision of one or more teachers until they are picked up.

Kindergarten Release • Please use the Kindergarten Pick Up Card with your child’s first, last and teacher’s name. The pick up line moves much quicker when we can read the card instead of asking each individual person “Who are you here for? ” • The list of people authorized to pick up your child must be kept current.

The Most Important Thing • PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US!!! • We always try to dismiss the students as quickly as possible. • Your child’s safety comes first. • Dismissal will take a bit longer in the beginning.

• • • Wish List Glue sticks Ziploc bags (gallon, sandwich or snack) Packages of copy paper Boxes of Kleenex Baby wipes Items for our prize boxes, such as pencils, erasers, stickers, small toys, etc.

Box Tops for Education • Please cut out and send in the Box Tops found on cereal boxes, etc.

Contacting a teacher • If you need to contact your child’s teacher, you can email or leave a voicemail message. However, if you send a message during the school day, we will not be able to return your email or phone call until after school. • If it’s an emergency, please leave a detailed message with a live office staff member. • Park View Prep’s phone number is (760) 241 -7731.

Email addresses • • • Mrs. Carroll Mrs. Hewitt Ms. Knight Mrs. Walker Mrs. Willey agcarroll@vesd. net shewitt@vesd. net lknight@vesd. net swalker@vesd. net pwilley@vesd. net

In closing… • Please have your child practice writing their name everyday to help strengthen their hand muscles, and help them to master writing their name. • We look forward to having you as a partner this school year. » Mrs. Carroll » Mrs. Hewitt » Ms. Knight » Mrs. Walker » Mrs. Willey

Lastly… Forms to complete today • Annual Information Update and Emergency Authorization Form • Free and Reduced Lunch Application • Kindergarten Release Information for BUS RIDERS Please complete and turn in both of these forms before you leave today.

Attendance: It’s the Key Research shows a huge correlation with chronic student absences and students performing academically lower than average. A growing body of research documents how many youngsters are chronically absent, meaning they miss 10% or more of the school year due to excused or unexcused absences. The research shows how these missed days, as early as preschool, translate into weaker reading skills and makes a clear case for engaging families to reduce chronic absenteeism.

Attendance: It’s the Key

Attendance: It’s the Key Missing fewer than 9 days in 2 years. Missing more than 18 days in 1 years. Missing more than 18 days both years.

Attendance: it’s the Key ▪ Getting your child to school on time EVERYDAY! ▪ Keeping your child at school all day! ▪ If your child is sick: 1. Call the Office 2. Write your child’s teacher a note Monthly Pizza Party from local sponsor Papa Johns for students and classrooms with the top attendance!